U.S. again receives D+ in March of Dimes report as preterm birth crisis persists; New Jersey earns C+
NEW JERSEY — The United States remains mired in a maternal and infant health crisis, earning a D+ grade for the fourth straight year in the 2025 March of Dimes Report Card. The national preterm birth rate held at 10.4%, meaning nearly 380,000 babies — 1 in 10 — were born too soon in 2024.
March of Dimes officials said the new data reveal deepening inequities, worsening health risks and continued declines in early prenatal care, despite years of warnings.
“As a clinician who has seen how much is possible when we get it right, these data are deeply frustrating,” said Dr. Michael Warren, March of Dimes chief medical and health officer. “We have known the drivers of preterm birth – delayed prenatal care, chronic disease, unequal access to care – for years. That the national rate remains unchanged while disparities continue to widen means we must deepen our commitment to research, expand maternity care access and push for better policies that protect our nation’s moms and babies.”
Key national findings for 2025 include:
- Black moms face a preterm birth rate of 14.7%, now 1.5 times higher than for other babies.
- Medicaid disparities are emerging, with a preterm birth rate of 11.7% among babies born to Medicaid-insured moms, compared to 9.8% for privately insured.
- First-trimester prenatal care continues to decline, with 24.5% of pregnant people not receiving early care — the fourth consecutive year of worsening access.
- Chronic conditions are rising, including an 8% increase in hypertension and 6% increase in diabetes.
- Infant mortality remains at 5.6 deaths per 1,000 live births, with more than 20,000 babies dying before their first birthday in 2023.
“This year’s Report Card tells us we are not only stalled – we are slipping,” said Cindy Rahman, president and CEO of March of Dimes. “Our country is stuck in a maternal and infant health crisis where too many families are being forgotten. We must confront the systemic inequities that leave families of color and those covered by Medicaid at higher risk, improve access to early prenatal care, and tackle the growing burden of chronic disease because every mom and baby deserves the chance for a healthy start.”
State-by-state, the data show a fractured national picture.
Nineteen states improved, led by South Dakota, while 21 states worsened, including Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, Virginia, Louisiana, and Connecticut. Washington, D.C. saw the steepest increase at 8%.
Maternal mortality declined to pre-pandemic levels — 18.6 deaths per 100,000 births — but Black, American Indian/Alaska Native, and Pacific Islander mothers continue to die at two to three times the rate of white mothers.
New Jersey earns C+ grade
New Jersey recorded 9,516 preterm births in 2024, with a preterm birth rate of 9.4%, earning a C+ grade — better than the national average and ranking 10th of 52 (all states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico).
New Jersey-specific highlights include:
- Improvement in low-risk Cesarean births compared with the previous year.
- Full implementation of all six maternal and infant health initiatives evaluated in the Report Card.
- Continued efforts to address disparities and expand maternal health programs.
March of Dimes outlines multi-pronged strategy
To confront the crisis, March of Dimes is expanding its Prematurity Research Centers — including a new Texas collaborative — and deploying more Mom & Baby Mobile Health Centers® to reach communities lacking maternity care.
Policy priorities include reauthorizing the PREEMIE Act, strengthening Maternal Mortality Review Committees through the Preventing Maternal Deaths Act, expanding Medicaid postpartum coverage, and improving access to doulas, midwives and rural telehealth.
While the report shows the U.S. remains locked in a dangerous status quo, March of Dimes officials say they will continue advocating for solutions rooted in equity, access and prevention.
